Machine for molding hollow concrete building-blocks.



PATENTED JUNE 16,-19'03.

H. s. PALMER. MACHINE FOR MOLDING "HOLLOW CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1903.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

No. 731,323. PATENTBD JUNE 16, 1903.

H. S. PALMER. MACHINE FOR MOLDING HOLLOW CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9 1903.

R0 MODEL. '7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\T h 7 I, 97" 7 6,8 7 x x No. 731,323. PATENTED JUNE 13, 1303. I

H. s. PALMER. MACHINE FOR MOLDING HOLLOW CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1903. .30 MODEL.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

el hiafgc ys No. 731,323. 3 PATENTED JUNE-16, 1903. S. A R- MACHINE FOR MOLDING HOLLOW CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1933.

N0 MODEL. '1 SHEETS-SHEETS.

/ 7 Eb lllllllilllllllllllllllluk ""'"llllllllllllllllllllllh-k I A No. 731,323. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

H. S. PALMER.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING HOLLOW CONCRETE BUILDING BLOOKS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL. '7 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

llllllIllllHIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllfllfll.IIIIIII \;1 ss@ fazmea No. 731,323. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

.v s. PALMER. I MACHINE FOR MOLDING HOLLOW CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 1 P T is co. vuoruumoq WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

1 PATENT FFICE.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING HOLLOW CONCRETE BUlLDlNG-BLOCKS.

sPEC. T.FIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 731,323, dated June 16, 1 903.

Application filed April 9, 1903.

T0 aZZ whom, itmrtyconcern:

Be it known that I, HARMON S. PALMER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Wash ington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Machine for Molding Hollow Concrete Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in machines of that class employed for the molding of building-blocks from concrete and similar compositions, and has for its principal object to constructanimprovedmachino by which blocks of any shape and size may be made by proper adjustment of the sides and ends, cores, and oiherportions of the machine.

A furtherand important object of the invention is to provide a machine of this class in which a plurality of cores are arranged on a vertically-movable core-carrierin such manner as to permit the ready detachment of the cores and the substitution of others of different shape and size for the formation of coreopenings of different character in the blocks, and, further, to provide for the adjustment of the positions of the cores with respect to the length of the block.

In machines employed for the manufacture of building-blocks from concrete and similar compositions it is usual to place in the bottom of the mold-box a removable plate which forms the lower portion of the mold and is removed with the block on the completion of the molding operation to serve as a support for the block until the latter is set or dried to an extent sufficient to permit the removal of the plate without injury to the block. The mold-boxes are adjustable to permit the manufacture of blocks of difierent shape and size with a single machine, and in such cases it is necessary to employ removable bottom plates of a different size for each different block to be. made. This adds greatly to the expense of the machine, as it is necessary to employ hundreds of bottom plates of each size and shape, a block requiring considerable time beforeit is set to an extent sufficient to permit the removal of the bottom plate "and its return to the machine for another operation.

A further object of the invention, therefore, is toprovide a machine whereby a single set of bottom plates all of the same size the machine.

Serial No. 151,888. (No model-l may be employed in the manufacture of blocks of any shape and size within the limits of the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine Which may be employed for the manufacture of cored blocks of the usual type or for the manufacture of slabs to .be utilized for facing walls or for flooring or like purposes.

A still further object of the invention is to improve the construction of'the machine, especially to improve the mounting of the adjustable side and end plates with a view of preventing injury to the blocks during the opening of the mold-box.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse sectional elevation of a machine for molding concrete buildingblocks constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the same machine on a somewhat smaller scale, illustrating the adjustment of the parts for the manufacture of corner-blocks. Fig. '3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the machine, showing the same adjusted for the manufacture of standard blocks. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. (5 is a detail perspective View of a portion of the bed-plate of Fig. 7 is a similar View of a detachable bracket which may be employed when the machine is adjusted to position for the manufacture of corner-block s. Fig.8 is a detail perspective View of the core-carrier removed from the machine. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View of the bed-plate; and Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of one of the adjustable lugs employed for the support of the side and end plates, these lugs being arranged at intervals in suitable slots formed at the Fig. 11 is a plan view having cores and edge of the bed-plate. of a standard form of block provided with bonding-recesses at its opposite ends, the dotted lines indicating a block of increased width which may be manufactured by adjusting one of the side plates of the machine. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of a removable filling-strip which may be employed as an auxiliary to the movable bottom plate when used in the manufacture of a block of increased width. Fig. 13 is a plan view of a standard block, illustrating in dotted lines an increase in width on both sides of the block, this being secured by adjustment of both of the side plates. Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of a pair of removable auxiliary strips to be used to increase the effective width of the removable bottom plate when the machine is employed for the manufacture of a block of the size indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a plan view of a standard block, showing in dotted lines an increase in the thickness of the walls of the block by decreasing the width of the cores. Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of a removable bar or strip which may be employed as an auxiliary to the removable bottom plate when a block of the character shown by dotted lines in Fig. 15 is to be made. Fig. 17 is a plan View of a standard block, showing in dotted lines a block of increased width and in which the thickness of the walls is increased by reduction in the area of the cores. Fig. 18 is a detail perspective view of the auxiliary mem-' her to be employed as an addition to the movable bottom plate for the manufacture of a block of the character shown by dotted lines in Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a block having an offset to form the usual water-table. Fig. 20 is a detail perspective view of an auxiliary strip which may be employed in addition to the removable bottom plate for the purpose of molding a block of the character shown in Fig. 19. Fig. 21 is a detail perspective view of a slab which may be manufactured by a suitable adjustment of the mold-box. Fig. 22 is a detail perspective view of a form of core which it is preferred to employ in connection with the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The main frame of the machine comprises opposite end standards 20 and an upper flanged bed-plate 21, the latter beingprovided withalongitudinally-disposed opening 22, extending for the entire length of the bed-plate between the inner faces of the standards to permit of the adjustment of the cores to any desired position in the length of the moldbox. The bed-plate is provided at each of its sides and ends with pairs of lugs 23, having slots forthe passage of securing-bolts, by which they are secured to the bed-plate, the slots permitting adjustment of the lugs until the pivot-openings carried thereby are at any desired distance from the edges of the bedplate in order to thereby vary the distance between the sides of the mold-box and alter the width of the molded blocks. The outer ends of the lugs extend downwardly below the bed-plate for a considerable distance and are provided with openings 25 for the passage of hinge-pintles or pivots by which the side plates 26 and end plates 27 are connected to said pivot-blocks, the connection permitting the movement of the side and end plates from a vertical position to an approximately horizontal position to open the box and allow the removal of the block and the completion of the molding operation.

In the manufacture of blocks having curved external surfaces or ornamental faces having deep indentations there is always more or less danger of mutilation of the molded faces when the plates are swung to a horizontal position, and it becomes desirable to increase the radius of swinging movement in order that the separation of the design-plate from the block shall be in a line as nearly as possible at right angles to the surface of said block. To accomplish this, the adjustable pivot-lugs are extended downwardly for a considerable distance, thus permitting a separating movement of the design-plates without danger of mutilation of the molded block.

The end standards 20 are provided with vertical guiding-slots for the reception of a cross-bar 38 and the outwardly-projecting arms 39 of a core-carrying bar or plate 40, the cross-bar and arms 39 being rigidly secured together at points outside the slotted frames by rack-bars 41, adapted to intermesh with pinions 43, mounted on a shaft 44, adapted to suitable bearings. The frame also carries a shaft 45, provided at its opposite ends with pinions 46, adapted to intermesh with gears 47, secured to the shaft 44, and said shaft is further provided with an operating-crank 47 (shownin Fig. 2) or a suitable belt or gear wheel, which may be used to imparta vertical reciprocating movement to the core-carrying bar or plat-e through the medium of the gears and rack-bars. The core bar or plate is of approximately the same length as the bed of the machine and comprises two side members spaced by an elongated slot 49, the adjacent faces of such members being provided with dovetailed guides 50, adapted to receive the lower ends of the adjustable and detachable core members. The cores, which may be of any contour, are carried by the core bar or plate and are adjustable longitudinally there-' of, suitable seen ring devices, as set-screws 52, being employed to lock the cores in any position to which they may be adjusted, and said cores may be readily detached from the carrier when it becomes necessary to substitute cores of different size or shape or to wholly dispense with the cores when it becomes necessary to form a solid block. The core-carrying bar is provided at a point near one end with a laterally-extending arm 53, to which a core may be secured when the machine is employed for the manufacture of a corner- IIO may be placed a division-plate 63, as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 4. This arrangement permits of the manufacture of halfblocks having a bonding--recess at each end and a central opening formed by the larger core-section. Half-blocksmaybemadeseparately, or the concrete or similar material may be placed on both sides of the division-plate to simultaneously form two half-blocks.

In one end of the mold-box is situated a sectional core of the character best shown in Fig. 4, the sections being detachable in order to permit the manufacture of blocks having core-openings of varying contour. The core which it is preferred to employ is best shown in Fig. 22, wherein the core is formed of a number of nested sections 68, 69, and 70, so arranged as to permit of the removal or addition of sections for the purpose of increas-- ing or diminishing the area of the core. The central core member 68 may be comparatively small, while the remaining sections are in the form of rectangular boxes which may be added should it be desired to'form a core-opening of greater size. In the manufacture of some forms of blocks the central core member or the outer additional members may be of various sizes in order to permit of the formation of a core-opening of the desired contour. This constitutes in itself a detachable core, in that the several sections may be independently removed or replaced in addition to the detachability of the main or central member of the core from its support.

In machines of this class of ordinary construction it is impossible to adjust the machine for the manufacture of both rectangular and corner blocks, the blocks of the latter class being provided with a laterally-extended portion at one end in order to properly provide for bonding. To accomplish this work, the core-bar is provided with a lateral arm 53 and one side plate 26, and one of the end plates 27 is made removable, the

' side plate being replaced by another shorter plate 80, while the end plate is adjusted to the position indicated in Fig. 2 to form the end of the shorter portion of the cornerblock. Near one end of the bed-plate are two recesses 83, adapted for the reception of the inwardly-projecting ends of a bracket 84. The

bracket 84 is provided with a projecting lug 85', which is adjusted to a position in alinement with the bed-plate lugs 23, the three lugs at the end of the, bed-plate serving as supports for an end plate 86, which is provided at one end with an inclined lockinglug similar to those employed to lock the remaining sides and end plates to each other. The side plate 80 employed in the formation of the corner-blocks is much shorter in length than the side plate 26, and at one end is a hinged section 87, which may be turned to a position at right angles to the side plate 80, this plate and its section 87 forming what may be termed the inner faces ofthe block. The outer portion of the plate-section 87 is partly supported by a lug 88, projecting from one end of the bracket 84. When the parts are adjusted in position to form a cornerblock, a suitable core 90. is bolted or otherwise secured to the arm 53 of the core-carrying bar 40 and is reciprocated with said bar by means of the operating-gearing. In the lower portion of the mold-box is placed a removable plate 92 of a contour corresponding to that of the blocks and provided with suitable openings for the passage of the cores and with end recesses for the reception of the core members carried by the end plates and serving for the formation of bonding recesses in the ends of the blocks. The openings in the removable bottom plates are shaped to conform to the character and position of the detachable and adjustable core members and are preferably formed of or coated with a non-corrodible material to prevent rust. In the bottom of the mold-box or the bed-plate are formed threaded openings for the passage of adjusting-screws 93,which may be arranged with their wrench-engaging heads either inside or outside of the box and serve to support the removable bottom plates, permitting the formation of blocks of different thickness.

In the manufacture of blocks the several 7 cores and mold-box members are first adj usted to the desired positions, the cores being elevated. A hopper 97, such as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, is then placed on top of the mold-box and the concrete is filled in and tamped between the sides of the box and the cores. The hopper is then removed and the top of the concrete troweled to remove all surplus material and form a smooth upper surface on the block. The cores are then lowered by means of the gearing, and the side end plates are unlocked and turned to the horizontal position, where they rest on suitable supports 37 during the removal of the bottom plate and the block. A new bottom plate is then placed in position and the parts readjusted forasecond and similar-operation.

When the machine is employed for the manufacture of a building-block of a width greater than that of the bed-plate 92, the pivot-lugs 23, secured to the bed-plate, are adjusted out to the desired distance in order to increase the distance between the two side plates, and the end plates are then removed and plates of correspondingly-greater width IIO substituted. Ordinarily it would be necessary to employ another set of removable bottom plates of a width equal to that of the block being made, and, as before stated, this materially increases the cost of the machine, as in practical use it is necessary to employ a very large number of bottom plates in order that opportunity may be had for molded blocks to set or dry. To overcome this difficulty, I employ removable and adjustable filling-strips of a character depending on the change in the contour of the block.

Fig. 11 illustrates the contour of a standard block; but in many cases it may be desirable to furnish a block having a thickened outer or inner wall in order to increase and strengthen the stability of the structure. When the thickness of only one wall of the block is to be increased, as to the extent indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 11, I employ a filling-strip 100 of the character shown in Fig. 12, said strip being in the form of an angle-bar having a vertical web, the inner wall ofwhich is of a height equal to the thickness of the removable bottom plate, while portions of the lower web are continued inwardly to form lugs 101, which may have suitable sockets for the reception of the upper ends of the adjustable screws or supports 93, carried by the bed-plate. In using astrip of this character one of the side plates is adjusted outward to the desired distance by means of the adjustable pivot-lugs 23, and after suitable adjustment of the screws 93 the auxiliary strips 100 are placed in position, the sockets in the lugs 101 receiving the ends of said screws and serving to support the strips, or in some cases these strips may be allowed to rest directly on the bed-plate, the lower web of the strip being made of sufficient thickness for the purpose. The removable bottom plate of standard size is then placed in position in the usual manner and the concrete or similar material shoveled in and tamped, as previously described, the block being supported partly by the removable bottom plate and partly by the strip 100. After the completion of the molding operation the sides and ends of the mold-box are moved to the open position and the bottom plate removed with the molded block, leaving the auxiliary strip in place in the moldboX. A portion of the block will project beyond the edge of the bottom plate; but it is found in practice that the material will set sufficiently to allow this without any injury whatever to the block, and it is possible to manufacture the blocks on a practical scale with the use of removable bottom plates of four inches, or thereabout, less than the width of the block or, say, about two inches on each side of said block.

The strip 100 may be made at very small cost and may be said to take the place of separate sets of removable bottom plates,

which would otherwise be necessary in the manufacture of a block of increased width,

so that the manufacturer is not compelled to carry in stock a large number of bottom plates of different size of which only one size can be used at a time.

In Fig. 13 is illustrated a block of standard size, the dotted lines showing a proposed increase in the width of both walls of the block, and in the manufacture of a block of the size indicated by these dotted lines I preferably employ a double filling-bar 102 of the character shown in Fig. 14, this double filling-bar being merely a duplication of the bar 100 and the two members being connected by crossbars 103 in order to increase the stability of the structure. The side plates of the mold box may be readily adjusted to accommodate the blocks of increased width, and after the molding operation is completed the narrow bottom plate of standard size may be employed to support the block.

In Fig. 15 is illustrated a form of block in which increased strength is provided for by decreasing the width of the core-openings, and when this is to be done I preferably employ a filling-bar of the character shown in Fig. 16 and comprising a double bar 104, having vertically-disposed ribs 105,-which tend to support the inner portion of the molded block and act as auxiliaries to the removable bottom plate during the molding operation. This double bar is likewise provided with outwardly-projectinglugs 101 for engagement with the supporting-screws.

In some cases it may be desired to manufacture a block of the character shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17, in which case the width of the block is increased and at the same time the width of the core-openings is reduced, and this may be accomplished by combining the auxiliary bars or plates, (shown in Figs. 14 and 16,) the outer bars 101 being connected to the inner bars 105, as clearly shown in Fig. 18.

In the manufacture of blocks provided with water-tables, as at 109 in Fig. 19, I employ an auxiliary fillingbar 110, having an inclined surface to form the beveled upper edge of the block, and thereby mold the watertable usually found in the lower portions of buildings.

The method of manufacture is obvious and needs no detailed description.

For some work it is desirable to mold the material in the form of slabs of the character shown in Fig. 21, and to manufacture such slabs Iemploy removable division or spacing plates 120, which are placed in the mold-box, being disposed in vertical position and supported by the cores. The plates are merely held by contact with the cores and are not secured in position, so that when the material has been tamped and the slabs molded the withdrawal of the cores, as in the making of blocks, will release the division-plates and permit the ready removal of the same without danger of injury to the slabs, and said division-plates may be formed of cast metal,

either plain or ornamented, so as to form any desired design on the face of the slab. After the completion of the molding operation and the withdrawal of the cores the division-plates are removed, the sides of the mold-box are opened, and the removable bottom plate taken out with the slabs resting thereon.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is-- 1. In a machine for molding hollow concrete blocks, the combination with the mold having movable sides and ends, of a core, a removable bottom plate, and a removable filling-strip for increasing the area of the blocksupport when the machine is adjusted for the manufacture of blocks of increased width.

2. In a machine for molding hollow concrete blocks, the combination with the mold having movable sides and ends, of a core, a removable bottom plate, and removable fillingstrips serving to increase the effective area of said plate.

3. In a machine for molding hollow concrete blocks, the combination with the mold having movable sides and ends, of a core, a removable bottom plate, and a filling-strip having webs or ribs for filling the spaces between the sides ofthe core and the adjacent edge of the opening in the bottom plate.

4. Inamachine formoldinghollow concrete blocks, the combination with the mold-box and removable bottom plate, of an auxiliary filling-strip for increasing the effective area of the bottom plate, and means for adj ustably supporting said strip in position in the moldbox.

' 5. Inamachineformoldinghollowconcrete blocks, the combination with the mold-box and removable bottom plate, of an auxiliary strip, and means for supporting the same in position within the mold-box to thereby form a water-table on the molded block.

6. In a machine for molding hollow concrete blocks, the combination with the mold having movable sides and ends, of a core, and removable division-plates arranged longitudinally of the mold and supported on one side by the core to thereby permit the molding of slabs.

7. In a machine for molding hollow concrete blocks, the combination with the mold having movable sides and ends, of a verticallymovable core, division-plates supported on one side by the core, and means for lowering the core to permit the removal of said plates.

8. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a bed-plate, of a plurality of adjustable lugs carried by the plate and having pivot-ears depending below the bottom of the plate, sides and ends connected to said pivot-ears, and a vertically-movable core disposed within the mold-box.

9. In a machine for molding hollow concrete blocks, the combination with a mold-box having movable side and end members, of a vertically-movable core-carrier, means for operating the same, a core comprising a plurality of detachable nested sections, and a :removable bottom plate having an opening for the passage of said core.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Y HARMON S. PALMER.

Witnesses:

J. Ross CoLHoUN, C. E. DOYLE. 

